The New York Times Strands puzzle for January 12th, 2024, presents a challenge centered around the theme of job applications and hiring. If you’re stuck, here’s a breakdown of the hints and solutions to help you complete the puzzle.
Understanding the Puzzle
Strands requires players to identify hidden words within a grid, all related to a central theme. Finding words of four or more letters unlocks in-game hints revealing the overarching topic. The ultimate goal is to uncover all theme-related words, including the spangram – a word that spans the entire grid.
Hints & Clues
The primary theme for today’s puzzle is “Appeal to Hire Power”. A direct clue is: “Get a job.”
To activate in-game hints, finding any words with four or more letters is helpful. The following words can unlock the theme:
- DANCE, DANCES, DANCER, DANCERS
- MEAN, NAMES, MEANS
- CONE
Solutions
The non-spangram words for today’s Strands puzzle are:
- NAME
- AWARDS
- SKILLS
- EDUCATION
- CONTACT
- EXPERIENCE
The spangram, the word that extends across the entire board, is RESUME. It begins with the letter ‘R’ four rows down in the leftmost column.
Past Difficult Puzzles
According to previous Strands puzzles, some of the toughest themes include dated slang (with the word “PHAT” being particularly difficult) and marine biology terminology (“BALEEN” or “RIGHT”).
The Strands puzzle emphasizes pattern recognition and theme association. The difficulty often lies in identifying obscure or less common words within the grid.
